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Why Not Almost There? I had never run a long race in my life, but here I am, in the middle of the 2015 Chicago Marathon. I’m feeling fantastic, even thinking I could go double the distance. Just being in this race was a mini-miracle. I had heart surgery and back surgery a decade earlier. I could barely stand back then, let alone run. Nonetheless, I’m fired up and feel better than ever. Then I see right in front of me— a sign that nearly stops me in my tracks, NOT ALMOST THERE. I try to brush it off but can’t stop thinking about those words. Every step seems heavier, harder, and then I start cramping up. I begin to walk and complain inside and out. I struggle the entire second half but finish (barely) with everything I have after being physically and mentally crushed. I have never stopped thinking about that sign but that’s fueled a quest to understand the power of the mind, body, and spirit. To understand how we accomplish things. To understand how we become better in the race against time and ourselves. Who am I? Southside Chicago kid. Young Father (20). Assembly line worker. Found 15 seconds between building cars to study. Graduated. Took 5 years. Created a few companies. Sold two. 800 employees. Created Refuel and Not Almost There to help others.
Episodes
Sunday Aug 08, 2021
Sunday Aug 08, 2021
CURTIS TOLER is a Chicago native and former leader of one of the city’s most notorious street gangs, Curtis serves as Director of Outreach for Chicago Cred. He is committed to impacting the culture of violence in Chicago by linking at-risk young men with chances to reset their lives through job training and permanent employment opportunities. Before joining CRED, Curtis was a gang intervention specialist and a spokesman for the peacemakers at the Faith Community of St. Sabastian’s Church. A member of the Community Justice Task Force and a Chicago Gang Historian, Curtis has received recognition from the State of Illinois Senate for his leadership efforts to bring peace to the streets, his commitment to improving the quality of life in the communities as well as for his commitment to advocating for positive changes to reduce violence in our neighborhoods. Curtis has been seen on HBO’s The CHI and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah as well as a contributor to Amanda Ripley’s book, High Conflict.
IN THIS EPISODE...Curtis shares his story with Joe; he came up in a high violent, high crime neighborhood. He was also the son of a prominent gang member. Curtis explains how he became involved with gang life and eventually moved up through the ranks to become a leader. He also shares how he decided to make a change, get out of the violence, and become an advocate for change within the inner city of Chicago, where most children and young adults are not given an opportunity at a life outside of crime and violence.
Breakdown with Curtis Toler:
Chapter 1 (0:00) Intro
Joe introduces Curtis Toler
Chapter 2 (2:40) Curtis’ start
Curtis talks about his upbringing from when he was a child in the inner city of Chicago
Chapter 3 (12:53) Getting into the gang life
From being jumped into a gang at age 11, to what gang life was like including getting incarcerated
Chapter 4 (28:49) Series of horrible events
After finding his mother murdered, Curtis hit a low point and was violet. Meanwhile, he was moving up the ranks within his gang
Chapter 5 (47:26) Deciding to Leave the Gang
The birth of his son left Curtis feeling the need to leave the gang and street life behind. He wasn’t able to quickly leave and had a series of setbacks
Chapter 6 (58:52) Starting Chicago CRED
Starting a program focused on helping young people who are involved in gangs or criminal activity and giving them opportunities they weren’t given before
Chapter 7 (1:02:30) Social media plays a part in gang conflict
Social media is now having an impact on street violence. When someone makes disrespectful comments online it can incite violence IRL
Chapter 8 (1:14:16) Programs starting in pre-school
Starting early intervention is key to letting kids know there is a different path for them
Chapter 9 (1:17:12) How to help
First is prayer, and second is if you care then you are there. You can mentor, tutor, financially or reach out to your local government
Chapter 10 (1:24:25) Wrapping up
Joe wraps up the episode and shares his takeaways
Material Referenced in this interview:
→https://www.chicagocred.org/
→https://www.amazon.com/High-Conflict-Why-Get-Trapped/dp/1982128569
→The Daily Show ft Curtis Toler
📞 Connecting with Curtis Toler:
→https://www.facebook.com/curtis.a.toler
→https://www.instagram.com/curtistoler/
→https://twitter.com/thecurtistoler
👊 To learn more about Not Almost There by visiting this link
→ Not Almost There http://notalmostthere.com/
Connect with Joe on social here:
→Instagram https://www.instagram.com/joe_chura/
→Facebook https://www.facebook.com/notalmostthere/
→Twitter http://twitter.com/joechura